Multi-Touch Tech Firm Seeks iPad Sales Injunction 148
An anonymous reader writes "Taiwan-based Elan Microelectronics just filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission alleging that Apple is infringing on its patents and violating the Tariff Act, and is seeking a ban on imports of the iPad as well as an order to stop selling the mobile device along with iPhones, iPods, and Macs. The move was taken as a 'continuation of our efforts to enforce our patent rights against Apple's ongoing infringement,' the company said." Considering many iPad pre-orders have tracking #s already, I suspect it might be a little late.
did anything come of the last suit? (Score:5, Interesting)
They sued Apple a year ago [washingtonpost.com] with essentially the same complaint about the iPhone, iPod Touch, and MacBook.
Wait... (Score:4, Interesting)
So who actually owns this patent?
Re:Patent Trolls (Score:5, Interesting)
didn't they kinda give up their rights when they stayed silent when the iPhone launched three years ago?
You mean when they began patent negotiations, and finally sued for patent infringement a year ago? You can't sue for patent infringement until someone actually infringes on your patent. Two years is not a long time when it comes to doing research and preparing for a patent infringement lawsuit, and it was Apple who requested the trial be delayed so they could prepare. You might have a point if they had waited five or ten years, but at this point any patent infringement lawsuit against the iPhone is still within a reasonable time-frame. It is Apple who is delaying and stalling and generally being a douchebag toward the rest of the cell phone industry here.
This is Elan Microelectronics basically saying Apple should not be permitted to release a new potentially infringing product while they have litigation in progress that directly concerns the type product they are releasing.
I think their position is completely reasonable, but I'll admit I might think differently if I were an Apple fan.
Re:Wait... (Score:4, Interesting)
"this shows how stupid America pushing IP is... it's just going to bite us back bigtime when India/China compete on the high end"
So... the argument against an IP framework is that those dern ferners might benefit from it too when they're the ones doing the innovative work? That soudns a bit nationalistic to say the least...
Re:Apple being sued for stealing? (Score:4, Interesting)
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/12/29/2143218/Nokia-Claims-Patent-Violations-in-Most-Apple-Products [slashdot.org]
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/10/22/1541220/Nokia-Sues-Apple-For-Patent-Infringement-In-iPhone [slashdot.org]
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/01/28/2055209/Fujitsu-Readies-Lawsuit-Over-iPad-Name [slashdot.org]
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/03/15/1854220/Nokia-Claims-Apple-Does-Legal-Alchemy-To-Mask-IP-Theft [slashdot.org]
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/01/17/069258/Apple-Seeks-To-Ban-Nokia-Imports-To-US [slashdot.org]
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/01/14/1941208/Kodak-Sues-Apple-amp-RIM-Over-Preview-In-Cameras [slashdot.org]
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/09/12/11/2048248/Apple-Counter-Sues-Nokia-Over-Patents [slashdot.org]
Or just do slashdot search for apple patent or nokia patent..
And where's Logitech? (Score:3, Interesting)
According to TFA, the patent in question is US Patent No. 5,825,352. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, Steven Bisset and Bernard Kasser are the sole inventors (filed 1996) of the multi-touch tech - and Logitech was the assignee as of 1998.
According to this link, Elan was launched to do semiconductor R&D in 1994, per http://www.computex.biz/elan/ [computex.biz]
SO - unless Elan bought this Logitech something's terribly wrong with the article. Can anyone help me with this?
Elan is winning local awards, see - http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-200983370.html [highbeam.com]
but the idea that they themselves invented the tech on the patent in question is not accurate. Here's their list of their achievements - http://www.emc.com.tw/eng/about_elan1_3.asp [emc.com.tw]
I'm a little confused here. Nothing wrong with selling technology and if Logitech did that, fine - but this sure seems like there's a lot more to this than "Apple rips off Taiwanese firm" - in my opinion.
Patent Trolls should maintain their patents (Score:5, Interesting)
Apparently the patent in question, 5,825,352, has expired due to failure to pay maintenance fees [uspto.gov] as of Oct 20, 2006.
So if the patent is expired, what basis are they suing on?